2. Contact Info

3. Dealer Selection

Developed “by enthusiasts for enthusiasts,” Mexico-based Vuhl has revealed the 05, a pure mid-engined two-seat sports car that’s powered by an EcoBoosted 2.0-liter I-4. With a claimed curb weight of about 1600 pounds, the Vuhl 05 could serve as an unusual replacement car for those more accustomed to driving Lotuses, Caterhams, KTM X-Bows, or Ariel Atoms.

Vuhl says the 05 will sprint from 0-62 mph in 3.7 seconds, with a top speed of 152 mph. Considering the car doesn’t really have a full front windshield, we’d be more interested in testing the car’s abilities on a track. Power comes from a 281-hp version of Ford‘s 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine, with 310 lb-ft of torque. In the 2013 Ford Focus ST, the turbocharged 2.0-liter I-4 is good for 252 hp and 270 lb-ft of torque. Did we mention the Vuhl is said to weigh just 1600 pounds?

Only a six-speed manual transmission will be offered on the Vuhl 05, which has a high-ratio rack-and-pinion steering system and a body composed of RTM reinforced plastic (carbon fiber is available). The 05 has unequal-length double wishbones front and rear, with a claimed “class-leading ergonomics” and “uncompromising build quality.” Weight distribution front-to-rear is 37/63 percent, which should make for some entertaining dynamics on the street and the track.

We hope we’ll have a chance to evaluate the Vuhl 05 and its makers’ claims before it goes on sale in the U.K. and the U.S. in the spring of 2014. Vuhl is still developing its dealer network, but eventually hopes to sell the car in the rest of Europe, China, and the Middle East. Vuhl says it has plenty of performance options that can be added, depending on the owner’s tastes.

Take a look at the photos in the gallery below and tell us: What do you think of the Vuhl 05?